Filtering apparatus for exhaust pumps



Sept 13, 1950 E. J. BEACH 2,952,331

FILTERING APPARATUS FOR EXHAUST PUMPS Filed April 20. 1959 U INVENTOR.

EDWARD d. BEACH A WTO/@V677 `United States Patent() FILTERING APPARATUSFOR EXHAUST PUlVIPS EdwardV J. Beach, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Beach-Russ Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York` Y Filed Apr.20, 1959,'Ser. No. 807,622

'6 Claims. (Cl. 183-34) This invention concerns an apparatus forliltering exhaust pump oil vapors in the form of oil smoke, mist orsmog. K According to the invention there is provided a casing throughwhich the vapors are passed. The casing includes a pair of screensbetween which is disposed a lam- 'inatedstructure consisting of Woven orknitted metallic :hair liltermembers and layers of rock wool. Thismaterial. is, made from slag which is aV residue of various ore reningprocesses. Instead `of rock wool it is possible to use Fiberglas. Theconsistency of the material must be precisely `controlled for optimumflteringresults.

It is a principal object of theinvention to provide a ltering apparatusemploying a lirst fluid dispersion mem- '.ber in the path of a vapor tobe ltered, a metallic hair lter unit and a mass of fibrous material, inthe path of the vapor to be filtered. Y KA further object is theprovision of filtering vapparatus rf or straining and filten'ng'a'n oilVapor so that clean` air "is discharged fromthe apparatusk and theliquids are retained and drained olf. 'v Y Y Another object is theprovision of a filtering apparatus Iin which a first metallic hairfilterY unit is disposed on a Ametal apertured'vapor dispersion`screen,`a plurality kof layers of rock wool are disposed Von the hair unit, asecond hair filter unit is'superimposed on the -top layerl of trockwool, another plurality of layers vofrock woolare :disposed on theseondhair unit; and a `secondfapertured .screen is located over the topAlayer of rockwool.

',For further comprehension of thev inventi-om and of .the objects 'andadvantages" thereof, reference will be had to the followingdescription'and accompanying draw- AingsQand to the appended claimsinwhich the various novell features ofthe invention are more particularlyAset forth.

` In the accompanying drawings forming a material part 'ofthisdispclosure: f'

' Eig. 1 is atop plan view ofV a ing the invention. f f

' Fig. 2 is a'longitudinal sectional view takenon line 2-2 ofrFig. A1. 1'1 p Referring to the drawings'there is shownY a substantially closed,kgenerally cylindrical casing` disposed with its axis'in a verticalposition. The casing has-a topclosed by a cover plate 14. The plate ispivotally secured'tc 'a sector plate 16 attlie top of the casing byhinge f18. vBolts 20 are removably threaded in a'radiallyextendingannular flange 22 at the top'of the casing-for holding 'the coversecurely closed. The plate 16 hasfa stub sleeve `17 which supports anexhaust pipe 24 from which clean air or` other gas is exhausted fromVthe casing. nThe cover lter apparatus embodyvhasahandle25.-` The casingis supported `apart 'aroundthe =casing-and kresting onAbedplates 27. fFitted into the 'centerkof Vthefdished bottomv'vall, 28 of upon threelegs 26 vspaced l20 the casing is an inlet pipe 30. This pipe hasaplurality of-.y circumferentally spacedfholes inIi-ts wall.j Thle holespermit communication betweenthe'pipe 3'0 and a ICE lower chamber 34 inthe casing. Flanges 36 at the top of chamber 34 support a first circulargrid or screen 38 having one-eighth inch openings 40. The screen 38serves as a tirst'dispersing means for the vapors discharged intochamber 34 from pipe 30. f

Disposed on screen 38 is a first circularpad or disk 42 made of knittedor woven metallic hair, such as steel or other metal wool. Theconsistency of this hair is such that it provides numerous intersticesand tortuous paths' for vapor which are smaller than the openings 40 invscreen 38. superimposed on disk 42 is a plurality of circular pads 44formed of blankets of fibrous material such as rock Wool. The disks areinitially larger in diameter than the casing 10 so that when inserted inthe casing the disks lit snugly `at the inner Wall of the casing. Aboutmidway between top and bottom of the casing and disposed on theuppermost disk 44 is a second knitted metallic hair pad or disk 46,similar to disk 42. Upon this disk 46 is another mass of fibrousmaterial, preferably -a plurality of pads 48 of rock wool.

A pair 0f flanges 50 support a second apertured screen 52 over the pads48. Screen 52 is spaced a short distance from the top of the casing todefine an upper collecting chamber 54 which opens into pipe 24. y

The inlet pipe 30 receives oil vapors to be liltered from an exhaustpipe 56 of -a vacuum pump or the like. A branch pipe 58 axially alignedwith pipe 30 serves as a trap leg for liquid condensate. This leg has adrain housing 60 provided with a drain cock 62. A drain pipe 64 issecured to the casing and opens into the bottom of chamber 34. This pipehas a drain cock 66 and a pressure relief valve 67. 'In assembling theapparatus it is important that the several filtering elements haveinterstices which are suiciently large to prevent undue pressure in theiilter assembly and back pressure at pipe 30. At the same time, theinterstices must not be so large as to permit oil drops to pass With theexhaust air through the filter. To obtain optimum filtration results,the rock Wool fibers must have an 'averagedensi-ty overall of live toten grams per cubic inch of filter pad. The several pads may be stamped,

' punched or otherwise formed from rock Wool blankets.

The lower disk 42 may be of coarser metallic hair than the upper disk46. The pads or disks 42 and 46 are preferably formed of knitted wiremesh which provides the necessary strength, flexibility, resiliency,light weight vand extensive surface area.

The separation actionof the apparatus is primarily one of impingement,with the individual Wires and fibers serv.- ing as impingement targets.

`A conical corrugated baie 68 may upper end of pipe 30 in chamber 34. fp

In. operation of the apparatus vapors to be tilteredare f-ed into pipe30 via the inlet 56. Excess liquid, heavy drops and condensate flowsdown into leg 50 and Acan be drained out Via the drain housing 60. TheVapor is driven under pressure through holes 32 into chamber 34 wherefurther condensation liquid can be drained 0E via drain cock 66. Ifexcessive pressure should build be mounted on toV relieve the pressure.The vapor is divided into streams in passing through holes 32 in rpipe30 and swirls around in chamber 34. The pressure of the vapor then.driveslit through the `first screen 40 which further divides the,drawing oli` via drain cock Y66,. The vapor now relieved of largerdrops passes through the fibrous,- mass. -"Ihis close packingeffectively vfilters a major quantity offthe oil entrained in the`vapor. .j

The vapor now passes through wire mesh pad 46 for further division intoseparate streams and through a final mass of fibrous material providedby pads 48. Screen 52 acts las a hold-down member to prevent deformationof the rock wool pads I48 and as a final condensation producing member.The cleaned and strained air free of oil is then discharged through pipe24. Due to the vertical disposition of the casing and upward travel ofthe vapor the filtration process is assisted by gravity.

The several screens and pads can be, removed by opening cover 14 when itis desired to clean the casing and to replace the screens -and/or pads.Cover 14 is a sector plate having a straight side shorter than thediameter of the casing and a curved side extending more than 180 of arcso that the plate is larger than one-half the circular extent of flange22.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constr-uction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifi.- cations may be made within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A filtering apparatus for oil Vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having `a closed bottom and top, an inlet pipeopening vertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing beingdisposed with its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axialalignment with the casing, a first apertured screen mounted transverselyacross the casing and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lowercompartment, a first knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, yafirst mass of fibrous material disposed on the wire mesh disk, a secondwire mesh disk disposed on said mass, a second mass of fibrous materialdisposed on the second disk, and a second apertured screen supportedover the second mass, said second screen being spaced from the top ofthe casing to define an upper compartment for collecting filtered air,and an exhaust pipe secured to the top of the casing and opening intothe upper compartment, a first drain connected to the lower compartmentfor draining liquid therefrom, and a second drain connected to saidinlet pipe for draining liquid condensate therefrom, there being a vaporexhaust pipe connected to said inlet pipe at a point above said seconddrain, said first drain terminating in a drain cock and pressure reliefvalve.

2. A filtering apparatus for oil vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having a closed bottom and top, Ian inlet pipeopening vertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing beingdisposed with its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axialalignment with the casing, a first apertured screen mounted transverselyacross the casing and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lowercompartment, a first knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, afirst mass of fibrous material disposed on the wire mesh disk, a secondwire mesh disk disposed on said mass, a second mass of fibrous materialdisposed on the second disk, and a second apertured screen supportedover the second mass,

said second screen being spaced from the top of the casing to define anupper compartment for collecting filtered air, and an exhaust pipesecured to the top of the casing and opening into the upper compartment,a first `drain connected to the lower compartment for draining liquidtherefrom, and a second drain connected to said inlet pipe for drainingliquid condensate therefrom,y there being a vapor exhaust pipe connectedto said inlet pipe at a point above said second drain, said first drainterminating in -a drain cock and pressure relief valve, the first andsecond masses of fibrous material being formed of circular pads of rockwool having a density of five to ten grams per cubic inch, said padstting snugly Within the cylindrical casing.

3. A filtering apparatus for oil vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having a closed bottom and top, an inlet pipe openingvertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing being disposedwith its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axial alignment withthe casing, -a first apertured screen mounted transversely across thecasing and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lower compartment,a first knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, a first mass offibrous material disposed on the wire mesh disk, a second wire mesh diskdisposed on said mass, 4a second mass of fibrous material disposed onthe second disk, and a second apertured screen supported over the secondmass, said second screen being spaced from the top of the casing todefine an upper compartment for collecting filtered air, and an exhaustpipe secured to the top of the casing and opening into the uppercompartment, a first drain connected to the lower compartment fordraining liquid therefrom, and `a second drain connected to said inletpipe for draining liquid condensate therefrom, there being a vaporexhaust pipe connected to said inlet pipe at a point above said seconddrain, said first drain terminating in a drain cock Aand pressure reliefvalve, the first and second masses of fibrous material being formed ofcircular pads of rock wool having a density of five to ten grams percubic inch, said pads fitting snugly within the cylindrical casing, saidinlet pipe having a terminal portion in the lower compartment formedwith circumferentially spaced holes for initially dividing into aplurality of streams the vapor entering said lower compartment, and aninverted conical baie on the upper end of the inlet pipe.

4. A filtering apparatus for oil vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having a closed bottom and top, an inlet pipe openingvertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing being disposedwith its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axial alignment withthe casing, a first apertured screen mounted transversely across thecasing and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lower compartment,a first knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, a first mass offibrous material disposed on the wire mesh disk, a second wire mesh diskdisposed on said mass, a second mass of fibrous material disposed on thesecond disk, and a second apertured screen supported over the secondmass, said second screen being spaced from the top of the casing todefine an upper compartment for collecting filtered air, and an exhaustpipe secured to the top of the casing and opening into the uppercompartment,- a first drain connected to the lower compartment fordraining liquid therefrom, and a second drain connected to said inletpipe for draining liquid condensate therefrom, there being a vaporexhaust pipe connected to said. inlet pipe at a point above said seconddrain, said first drain terminating in a drain cock and pressure reliefvalve, the first and second masses of fibrous material being formed ofcircular pads of rock wool having a density of five to ten grams percubic inch, said pads fitting snugly within the cylindrical casing, saidinlet pipe having a terminal portion in the lower compartment formedwith circumferentially spaced holes for initially dividing into aplurality of streams the vapor entering said lower compartment, and aninverted conical baffle on the upper end of the inlet pipe, the bottomof the casing having a dished form, said casing being supported uponangularly spaced legs.

5. A filtering apparatus for oil vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having a closed bottom and top, an inlet pipe openingvertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing being disposedwith its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axial alignment withthe casing, a rst apertured screen mounted transversely across the,casing and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lower compartment,a iirst knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, a rst mass offibrous material disposed on the Wire mesh disk, a second wire mesh diskdisposed on said mass, a second mass of brous material disposed on thesecond disk, and a second apertured screen supported over the secondmass, said second screen being spaced fromthe top of the casing todefine an upper compartment for collecting ltered air, and an exhaustpipe secured to the top of the casing `and opening into the uppercompartment, a first drain connected to the lower compartment fordraining liquid therefrom, and a second drain connected to said inletpipe for draining liquid condensate therefrom, there being a vaporexhaust pipe connected to said inlet pipe at a point above said seconddrain, said rst drain terminating in a drain cock and pressure reliefvalve, the first and second masses of fibrous material being formed ofcircular pads of rock Wool having a density of tive to ten Agrams percubic inch, said pads fitting snugly within the cylindrical casing, saidinlet pipe having a terminal portion in the lower compartment formedwith circumferentially spaced holes for initially dividing into aplurality of streams the vapor entering said lower compartment, and aninverted conical baie on the upper end of the inlet pipe, the bottom ofthe casing having a dished form, said casing being supported uponangularly spaced legs, the top of the casing including a first sectorplate supporting said exhaust pipe, and a cover in the form of anothersector plate larger than a semicircle hinged to the rst sector plate.

6. A filtering apparatus for oil vapor, comprising a generallycylindrical casing having a closed bottom and top, an inlet pipe openingvertically into the bottom of the casing, said casing `being disposedwith its axis vertical, said pipe being disposed in axial alignment withthe casing, a rst apertured screen mounted transversely across thecasing `and spaced from the bottom thereof to define a lowercompartment, a rst knitted wire mesh disk disposed on the screen, afirst mass of fibrous material disposed on the Wire mesh disk, a secondwire mesh disk disposed on said mass, a second mass of fibrous materialdisposed on the second disk, and a second apertured screen supportedover the second mass, said second screen being spaced from the top ofthe casing to define an upper compartment for collecting filtered air,and an exhaust pipe secured to the top of the casing and opening intothe upper compartment, ya first drain connected to the lower compartmentfor draining liquid therefrom, and a second drain connected to saidinlet pipe for draining liquid condensate therefrom, there being a vaporexhaust pipe connected to said inlet pipe at a`point above said seconddrain, said first drain terminating in a drain cock and pressure reliefvalve, the rst and second masses of fibrous material being formed ofcircular pads of rock wool having a density of five to ten grams percubic inch, said pads fitting snugly within the cylindrical casing,

said inlet pipe having a terminal portion in the lower comv partmentformed with circumferentially spaced holes for initially dividing into aplurality of streams the vapor entering said lower compartment, and aninverted conical baie on the upper end of the inlet pipe, the bottom ofthe casing having a dished form, said casing being supported uponangularly spaced legs, the top of the casing including a first sectorplate supporting said exhaust pipe, and a cover in the form of anothersector plate larger than a semicircle hinged to the first sector plate,said casing being formed with an annular flange at its top end, saidcover having a free arcuate rim secured to said ange by removable boltsfor removing and replacing the screens, disks and pads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS406,603 Sutton July 9, 1889 1,677,804 Thayer July 17, 1928 1,892,982Gartha Jan. 3, 1933 2,144,681 Kraissl Ian. 24, 1939 2,822,059 Lunn et alFeb. 4, 1958 2,886,122 Lantz May 12, 1959

